Patient support



April 9, 1968 c. E. JACKSCN 3,377,078

PATIENT SUPPORT Filed-March 21, 1966 C/arefice 5. 4700400 Y INVENTOR.

BY & Pam/J A TIDE/V5 r;

United States Patent Ofilice 3,377,078 PATIENT SUPPORT Clarence E. Jackson, 3514 Ash Road, La Marque, Tex. 77568 Filed Mar. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 535,922 1 Claim. (Cl. 280-7.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A base support having wheels or rollers receives a spaced second support which includes an adjustable member to enable persons having a disabled leg member to either lie down or sit vertically on the second support and to enable persons having disabled leg members sitting on the second support to move from place to place by providing a force to move the rollers of the first support.

This invention relates to a new and improved patient support and more particularly to a patient support adapted to be used by an individual with a disabled leg member and the like.

It is well known that an individual with a disabled leg member or two disabled leg members is generally restricted in his movement. Although wheel chairs and the like may be used by these individuals, at the present time, it is well known that such devices are uncomfortable and generally provide no means for the individual using them to rest except in an upright position.

It is also well known that such devices are limited with respect to the storing of articles such as magazines, blankets and the like.

Further, if an individual has only one disabled leg member and is restricted to a wheel chair and the like, the other normal leg member is not used because such wheel chairs and the like are usually propelled by the individuals arms rotating the wheels of said chair.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a patient support including an adjustable chair member for receiving a patient with a disabled leg or legs that is supported by a wheeled platform.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a patient support for a patient with a disabled leg member wherein said patient support is adapted to be propelled and manipulated by the other non-disabled leg of the patient,

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specifications and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the patient support of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an upper adjustable bed for the patient.

Attention is directed to FIG. 1 wherein there is illustrated the patient support of the present invention which is generally designated at 10. The patient support includes a lower base support 11 having an upper surface 11a which is adapted to receive and store equipment, such as books, blankets or other suitable materials. The base support 11 is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with four corners, only three of which are shown at 11b, 11c, and 11a. The under surface 11 of the base support is provided with a plurality of transversely extending strengthening members 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and 12e which help to strengthen the base support 11 for any load or weight that may be placed thereon.

3,377,?8 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a plurality of wheels 13a and 13b are mounted with the undersurface 11f of the base support 11 in any suitable manner. It should be noted that the wheels 13 are each provided with upwardly extending arms 14 for mounting with the undersurface 11f of the base support 11 and are adapted to be moved or manipulated in any desired direction by the simple application of a driving or moving force in that direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a second adjustable support or base generally designated at 15 is spaced upwardly from said base support 11 and is also mounted therewith. The second adjustable support 15 includes a pair of the depending legs 20 and 21 which are secured together at their lower ends by a transversely extending leg 23. A pair of mounting brackets 24 are provided to secure the leg 23 to the upper surface 11a of the base support 11 adjacent each of the corners 11c and 11d, respectively. It should be noted that the depending legs 20 and 21 are secured on each side 1511 and 15b of the second adjustable support 15, respectively, in any suitable manner such as, for example, nut and bolt means. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, two pairs of legs 25 and 26 are mounted with the second adjustable support 15 for further spacing the second support 15 from the base support 11, The legs 25 are joined at their lower ends by a transversely extending leg 27 which is positioned substantially in the. middle of the base support 11 and the legs 26 are joined together at their lower ends by a transversely extending leg 28 adjacent the corner 11b and its transverse opposite corner of the base support 11. Each of the transversely extending legs 27 and 28 is secured to the upper surface 11a of the base support 11 by a plurality of mounting brackets 30 which are similar to the mounting brackets 24. It should be noted that one of each of the pairs of legs 25 and 26 are secured on each side 15a and 15b of the second support, respectively by any suitable means such as nuts and bolts 31 and are positioned to a fixed portion of the adjustable support 15. One of each of the pairs of legs 25 and 26 extend upwardly on each side 15a and 15b of the second support, respectively, to be joined together at their upper ends adjacent a point 32.

An adjustable portion 15d of the second base 15 is secured to the fixed portion 150 of the base 15 by a transversely extending bar 35. The bar 35 is inserted through openings in each of the sides 15a and 15b of the fixed portion 150 and adjustable portion 15d of the second support 15 adjacent the pair of legs 26. The bar 35 extends outwardly relative to each of the sides 15a and 15b of said respective portions and is fixedly secured to a pair of retainer straps 36 (only one of which is shown). Each of the retainer straps 36 extends downwardly and are secured to one of each of the legs 26 in any suitable manner such as with brads.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a pair of transversely extending arms or arm means 40' are secured at one end 40a to each side of the adjustable portion 15d of the second support 15, respectively. Each of the arms 40 is provided with openings 41 which extend longitudinally substantially from the center of the arms 40 to the other end 4012 of the arms. Each of the openings 41 are adapted to receive one of each of the arms 25 and 26 respectively at their point of merge-r or joinder 32 as previously mentioned hereinabove. The openings 41 include upwardly extending spaced notches 41a for receiving each of the arms 25 and 2-6 respectively at 32. It should be apparent that the notches 41a are for receiving the portion 32' of each of the arms 25 and 26 that are positioned on each side 15a and 15b, respectively of the second support 15 and in this manner the adjustable portion 15d is adapted to rotate around the horizontal or transverse bar 35 by simply moving the arms forwardly or backwardly relative 3 to the fixed portion 150 so that the notches 41a catch and retain the portion 25 and 26 of each of the arms 25 and 26 respectively either adjacent the center of the arms 40 or adjacent the end 4011 thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the second adjustable support 15 is adapted to receive a plurality of interwoven materials formed of resilient means 45 and the like which are secured to said support 15 in any suitable manner such as by stitching or sewing. It should be noted that such resilient means 45 are adapted to respond to the body weight of a patient setting or lying thereon. It should also be noted that such means 45 may also include bedding, padding or the like.

A plurality of means for lifting 46 are secured to the lower base support 11 and the second adjustable support 15 in any suitable manner and may include leather straps, ropes or the like which are secured to the support 11 and the support 15 by tieing them securely thereto.

In the operation of the invention a patient with a disabled leg is positioned on the resilient means 45 so that his arms will be permitted to rest on the arm means 40 when the patient support is in the position as illustrated in FIG. 1. When in this position the patients back is resting against the adjustable portion d of the second support 15 and the legs of the patient are resting on the fixed portion 150 of the second support 15. In this position the patient can drop the non-disabled leg until it touches the floor so that he can push with his foot and leg. As the patient pushes against the floor with his nondisabled leg and foot, the patient support 10 will respond to such pushing force or driving means and will be propelled, guided or manipulated in the direction of the force. Thus, the patient may easily move in any direction or in a 360 circle if desired while at the same time having the actual comfort of an adjustable back 15d which forms a chair such as illustrated in FIG. 1.

If the patient becomes tired and desires to rest, the arms can be adjusted as previously mentioned hereinabove so that the adjustable portion 15d of the second support 15 and the fixed portion 150 of said second support 15 are substantially horizontal and parallel such as illustrated in FIG. 2. It should be noted that while in this position the second support base 15 forms a bed with the resilient means being used as a mattress. It should further be noted that if the weight of the patient is such that the patient support 10 has a tendency to dip at the corners 11b and l le while the patient is lying down such as illustrated in FIG. 2 that there is provided a vertical drop member 47 which is secured to the lower surf-ace of the strengthening member 12a to depend downwardly to contact and engage the floor if the patient support '10 should clip a certain amount in that direction.

Briefly the present invention relates to a patient support including a lower base support for receiving and storing equipment, a plurality of wheels mounted with said lower base support, and a second support spaced from said base support for receiving a patient with a disabled leg wherein the paiient is enabled to propel and guide the patient support by pushing the floor with his other non-disabled leg.

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support comprising:

(a) a flat base support having an upper surface adapted to receive equipment for storing;

(b) a plurality of caster wheels adjacent and supporting said base and contacting the floor, said wheels being adapted to move said support in direct line with a force provided by the patient;

(c) a second adjustable base comprising;

(1) a fixed portion for receiving the lower body of a patient;

(2) a depending pair of connected legs secured at one end to ,the front of said fixed portion and supported on the upper surface of said fiat base, said depending legs being connected adjacent said upper surface of said flat base;

(3) an adjustable portion of said second base adapted to rotate from horizontal to vertical positions to enable the upper body of the patient to be moved from horizontal to vertical positions, as desired, said adjustable portion being secured to said fixed portion at the opposite end from said depending legs;

(4) a second pair of connected legs each of which comprises;

(a) two leg members with one of said leg members supported on said fiat base adjacent the rear thereof and extending upwardly therefrom past said second base and the second of said leg members secured with said flat base adjacent the side and middle thereof and extending upwardly therefrom past said second base;

(b) a pair of connecting members one of each of which connects said first leg member with said first leg member on the opposite side of said fiat base and said second leg member with said second leg member on the opposite side of said fiat base; and

(c) said first and second leg members of each of said pair of connected legs being secured together above said second base;

(5) a pair of arm members, one of each of which is secured at one end thereof on each side of said adjustable portion of said second base; and

(6) each of said arm members having notched openings therein at the end opposite from said adjustable portion, one of each of said openings receiving one of said second legs immediately adjacent the intersection of each of said first and second leg members of each of said second legs wherein movement of said arm members causes rotation of said adjustable portion of said second base and causes movement of said notched openings relative to said second legs whereby rotation of said adjustable portion is terminated by positioning one of each of said second legs adjacent the intersection of said first and second leg members of each of said legs in one of each of said notched openings in one of each of said arms, respectively, which prevents further movement of said arms and said second rotatable portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,212 10/1926 Raymond 280-32.6 1,702,010 2/1929 Klever 29620 2,349,023 5/ 1944 Van Der Hyde 582 2,546,493 "3/ 1951 Booth 297359 XR 2,887,150 5/1959 Thomas 297359 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 340,716 9/ 1921 Germany.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner. MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner, 

